When Mikel Arteta stepped up to take a penalty midway through the second half, ­Arsenal’s season was one slip away from disaster.

Blown away by Bayern Munich, out-fought at Stoke and having surrendered the initiative to Everton in this FA Cup quarter-final, the grim prospect of a ninth straight season without a trophy was looming large.

Giroud, forgiven for at least one trespass, made the scoreline very flattering with two late strikes.

But Arteta’s iron nerve was key because, whatever the final scoreline, Everton were right in this match until three-quarters of the way through.

But Roberto Martinez’s grip on the FA Cup is finally loosened after last season’s triumph with Wigan. His first season at ­Goodison Park has been hugely ­promising, but ­ultimately fruitless, with any real chance of a top-four place already gone.

He complained about the crucial penalty award, but he was clutching at straws.

Arsenal had begun with a pack-of-dogs attitude.

After just seven minutes, Santi Cazorla beat James McCarthy, advanced and slipped a pass to Ozil, who tucked it into the corner.

Ozil was seen winning a tackle back on his own ­goal-line soon after.

There was little doubt the ­club-record signing needed and benefited from his spell out of the firing line.

Boss Arsene Wenger said : “It was important for him and the way he took his chance. You want him sometimes to take more chances because he looks always for the good pass. So, I hope that will encourage him.

“What I like is that, ­physically he looked ­regenerated, having more power in his runs.

“And, as well, what I liked, he did a lot of dirty work for a player like him.”

But Everton were level on 33 minutes as Ross Barkley sprinted past Mathieu Flamini – unwilling to commit himself after an early booking – and centred.

Kevin Mirallas miscued, but Romelu Lukaku coolly tapped in from close range.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was instantly denied by Joel Robles, but Everton’s ­confidence was growing and Mirallas shot straight at Lucasz Fabianksi when he might have done better. Mirallas also squandered a good chance before the break and Barkley missed an even better one.

A miskick from Thomas Vermaelen let in Lukaku, who laid back for the England kid to blaze over.

Oxlade-Chamberlain had done Barry for pace before he was tripped – Clattenburg correctly pointing to the spot to set up Arteta’s crucial test of nerve.